"Commercial Horse" (clyde/hackney x) anyone have experience?

[Pehsness]

I’ve recently stumbled across a barn that breeds (on a very small scale) Clyde/Hackney crosses. I had never heard of them before and so was a bit skeptical, wondering if this was just something the BO had dreamed up or was a happy field accident.

I did a small bit of research and realized it’s really a thing (or perhaps was a thing, maybe not so popular anymore?). I’ve always loved the idea of a draft x so I’m intrigued. Does anyone have any experience with this cross? Total backyard AA with goals to show locally again after a 15 year hiatus for life and family. This barn also has a lesson program that so far seems like a good fit.

Thanks for any input!

[2DogsFarm]

Local guy drives a 4 of this cross.
Very flashy ponies, with great motion for that discipline.
I have no idea how they might ride.

[Toblersmom]

Sounds like a cross that would be at least a bit similar to the “Georgian Grande”, at least those coming from Clyde/Saddlebred rather than the other draft/near draft options.

[jonem004]

How can you bring this up without posting PICTURES!!!???!!!

[DiamondJubilee]

We have tons of them around here doing commercial classes. There is a local breeder as well that has a sale every year and they go for riding or driving animals. Love the cross. Very flashy and can be great to work with. I love both breeds so I think its a great cross!

Here is a link to the sales: http://www.ontariobreedersproduction…rossbreds.html

There is also a local dressage coach that took her hackney/clyde cross up to PSG I belive. Very nice duo!

[Pehsness]

oh wow, now I’m super intrigued!

The only pictures I’ve seen are from this site, it’s where I gleaned the fact that it is actually real cross

http://www.prospectequinefarms.com/crossbreed.htm

[goodhors]

When talking “commercial horses” realize most of these are Hackney HORSE crossbreds, not pony crossbreds. Many aimed at driven uses, like tours, weddings. We used to see a lot of the Hackney-Clyde crosses put to coaches, bigger wagoneette breaks at Carriage Association gatherings. They were called the Canadian Crossbreds back then. Easy to find matching ones, good action, faster movers, not draft horse BIG, better “style”, than plain Clydesdales in moving a load of dressed up people. Easier to locate than pure Hackney horses and probably less expensive. All the ones we knew of came down from Canada.

I had not heard of them being ridden before, but folks want to ride all their equines these days. Hackneys were ridden in the past, made wonderful jumpers I heard. But their efficent trot with natural action for road miles, straighter shoulder that is perfect for driving neck collars for loads, is not always the most comfortable for sitting, And they can be “lively” at times!

[WildLittleWren]

Interesting, I had never even heard of this cross before!

[DiamondJubilee]

The cross is very common here, I never really thought that is was more of a “location” breed! But I guess it is lol!

We see a lot of the Commercial classes at fairs where they are “dressed” and hooked to wagons (like full Clydes and draft breeds). But I’ve seen a lot under saddle, doing dressage, jumpers and eventing. The odd one in the hunters but they do tend to have a lot of knee action at the trot…

[Fred]

I am quite familiar with them too.
My understanding is that the name ‘Commercial’ was in reference to the fact that these horses were originally intended - back when horses were used for transportation - to be used in fancy, ‘commercial’ settings, beautiful bright bays, with a lot of white, elegant and impressive looking to pull delivery vehicles for shops and other businesses.
As @goodhors indicated they were crosses between Clydes and Hackney horses, and it is my understanding that they are always, or at least used to be, F1 crosses between those two breeds.
I have seen them and admired them for years from attending the Royal Winter Fair, and often being stabled near them.
I also know a number of people who had them as riding horses.
Back in the not-too-distant past, the cross of commercials with a TB stallion was done to produce a handsome, big jumping horse, many of whom were on the Cdn jumping teams, and also excelled as hunt horses. ( 1/2 TBx 1/4 Clydex 1/4 Hackney).

[BigMama1]

@Pehsness

I’ve recently stumbled across a barn that breeds (on a very small scale) Clyde/Hackney crosses. I had never heard of them before and so was a bit skeptical, wondering if this was just something the BO had dreamed up or was a happy field accident.

I did a small bit of research and realized it’s really a thing (or perhaps was a thing, maybe not so popular anymore?). I’ve always loved the idea of a draft x so I’m intrigued. Does anyone have any experience with this cross? Total backyard AA with goals to show locally again after a 15 year hiatus for life and family. This barn also has a lesson program that so far seems like a good fit.

Thanks for any input!

Quite common in our area as there were several local breeders who banded together to host a sale each year for about a decade. Like any breed there is a range of quality, temperaments and conformations.

With good conformation they can be strong, sound and versatile horses that particularly seem to excel in the hunt field, as low level eventers, and driving horses. We have two in the barn where I board that compete at FEI level dressage with solid scores into the 60s, even though they lack the flashy gait quality and natural suspension of the typical dressage warmblood. One made it all the way to Grand Prix and the other one is currently successful at I-1 at 9 years old. I suspect he will get to GP too.

The ones I know personally generally have great brains and an excellent work ethic. Some tend to be on the hotter side, but not in a silly or dangerous way. How much of the Hackney knee action they have varies widely.

All in all I think they are good choice for someone looking for versatile all-around horse on a budget.

[BigMama1]

@Pehsness

oh wow, now I’m super intrigued!

The only pictures I’ve seen are from this site, it’s where I gleaned the fact that it is actually real cross

http://www.prospectequinefarms.com/crossbreed.htm

The owner of that farm is actually a longtime COTHer, although I haven’t seen her here lately.

[Ceylon_Star]

There is one doing 3rd level dressage in my area. Gorgeous 16.2hh gelding, puppy dog personality.

similar to Georgian Grande (saddlebred/draft or saddlebred/friesian, the latter being more popular here on the west coast), but a bit more bone and broader backs from what I’ve seen.

Actually, the one I know is more like a Dutch Harness Horse than a Georgian Grande.

Not really a show hunter mover, but absolutely something you could take across country or to hounds.

I wouldn’t hesitate to look at horses of that cross for most activities. I might be inclined to pass if I were a die hard show hunter, western pleasure rider, or reiner though. Too much action, and too long overall.

[Pehsness]

She’s gorgeous Aeris!

I can’t fathom bringing a horse up through the levels, I feel like that ship has sailed for me. But it’s fun to think about it, and plan for the future. I have a mid-teens QH gelding I acquired a year or so ago that I’m having fun with for now, with the goal of him being a good walk/trot horse for my kiddos for the next 5 years or so, and a re-intro in to the show ring for me. He will be fine for all of those things if he stays sound, but soon enough he’ll be older and I expect his past life to catch up with him physically at some point. So how fun would it be to have a sport horse waiting in the wings…

ah, horse dreams. Too much fun.

[2DogsFarm]

@goodhors & @Fred the guy I know has a Clyde/Hackney Pony cross.
They show in Draft Pony divisions and do not measure 15h.

I assume the mare was the Clyde.
And perhaps the stallion had a stepladder

[goodhors]

2Dogs, I knew the ones you mentioned were ponies. I wanted the other folks to know most of the Commercial were indeed horses, not ponies with that cross. HACKNEY book has both horses and pony sized equines in together, last I knew. Can be confusing without specifying sizes.